Page 20 of Goalie Interference

He shot me a look. “I didn’t ask for them to sign you, no. We’ve got history, and I sure as fuck didn’t want you involved in something that could blow up my career. But you’re here, and I’ll use you.”

Great.Not only did Otts and I have history from our playing days, but he didn’t want me here now.

“I’d never sabotage anyone’s career.” I wouldn’t and I didn’t understand his continuing beef with me now that we weren’t both playing. He shrugged, looked ready to leave now that he’d dropped his bombshell. “So what’s the plan? What about Keats?”

“He’s playing.”

I lifted a brow.

“We’re doing a three-goalie tandem.”

What the everlasting fuck?Having extra goalies in training camp was normal, for the coaches to evaluate before sending them to the farm team or school or whatever till they were ready. But normally only two goalies were on the final roster. “So we don’t have a starter and a backup, but three of us.”

He nodded.

“What about that speech you gave, that anyone can make it?”

“It’s motivation. I’m not saying things can’t change, but it would take something major for that to happen.”

“So I’m only here to babysit the guy? Not to be the team backup?”

“I didn’t ask for you, and I would have said no if I could. But they have a point. You work hard, you’re reliable, and you’re the least superstitious player I know. Which frankly is fucking weird for a goalie.”

I used to be as superstitious as anyone. But after my injury I’d learned the superstitions didn’t do fuck all, so I let them go.

“And, you were available.”

I flinched. “Am I going to play at all?”

He nodded. “Anything can happen. We want you ready to go if needed, so we’ll be sharing starts among the three of you.”

“And if the kid screws up, is it my neck or yours?”

Otts shrugged again. “Let’s make sure he doesn’t screw up.”

He skated away without saying good-bye while I digested the information he’d given me. On the bright side, I was making the team and I’d get to play. On the dark side, I was here to mentor the goalie they really wanted, and I wouldn’t be playing much. How the hell was I going to get a contract for next year if I rarely played? What would teams say behind the scenes about the goalie situation here?

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.It might have been better to wait for a midseason call-up from a team that needed help after an injury. For one sweet moment I pictured telling them all to fuck off and quitting. Say I was retiring and not dealing with any of this shit. Laplante, Otts, Sophie. But once I did that, what was I going to do? I didn’t own any property beyond the cottage. I had money so I could buy another place, but where?

I sighed and headed for the gate, last one on the ice now. I’d stay, because if it was a choice between hockey and anything else, I always picked hockey.

The locker room had mostly cleared out by now. I showered and found Hanny waiting for me when I came out.

“Remy! Let’s grab some lunch and catch up?”

“Sure.”

I didn’t want to be on my own, dwelling on the cock-up of my career. There was a dark, angry buzz under my skin. And maybe with some time for the news to settle I’d be in a better place to consider what would be the smart thing to do.

We’d just gotten to Hanny’s car when I found a message from Elsa on the team phone. As part of the welcome information I’d received, she’d asked if I needed any help and I’d said I was looking for a vehicle to lease.

She’d come through. A local dealership had offered a truck at a competitive rate, and if I headed over there now, I could have a vehicle within the hour.

“If I pay for lunch, would you take me to this place?” I showed Hanny the name of the dealership.

“Ooh, new truck? Sure, sounds like fun.”

It didn’t take long. The salesman was more excited about seeing Hanny than me, but he put through the paperwork and I had wheels.

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